Current motor



. March 1s, 1924. 1,487,665

K. MUKAI CURRENT MOTOR Filed March 17. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l March 18 1924.

K` MUKAl CURRENT MOTOR 'Filed March 1v. 1923 2 'saam-sheet 2 Patented Mar. I8, 1924.

ITE

tites KICHINEATSU IVIUKAI, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

CURRENT MOTOR.

Application filed March 17, 1923. Serial No. 625,896.

seasonal conditions of rise and fall, if the Y stream is located near tide water.

The principal'object of this invention is to provide simple means whereby the flow of a stream may be converted into useful power in a simple and efficient manner. Another object is to provide automatic means for adjusting the power wheel to accommodate for the iuctuation in the tide water mark.

Another object is to provide means whereby any seepage of water Vinto the power wheel will be automatically imparted back into the stream.

Other objects andv advantages will be apparent during the course of the Jfollowing description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure l is a side elevation of my device, as applied to the bank of a river, which bank is shown in cross section,

Figure 2 is a top plan view of my device,

Figure 3 is a cross section taken onthe line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4c is an end elevation of the driven shaft and its associated parts,

Figure 5 is a cross section of my power wheel,

Figure 6 is a cross section taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 7,

Figure 7 is a cross section taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 6,

Figure 8 is a cross section taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 9,

Figure 9 is a top plan view of Figure 8, and

Figure 10 is a side elevation of my power wheel.

In obtaining power from a stream, it is essential that the power `-wheel mustV be mounted so as to accommodate itself to the rise and fall. of the river level. This I have accomplished in a novel manner as by view ing Figure 1, it will be noted that the numeral 5 designates the bank of a stream, 6 the high water mark of the river.

Y The numerals 7 and 8 designate piles vdriven into the bed of the stream. At 9 VI have shown a suitable base upon the bank, upon which are mounted uprights 11 and 12. These uprights are secured together by cross pieces 18 and 14 and cross pieces 16 and 17 thus forming a rectangular structure, in the top of which are mounted pulleys 18 and 19.

A weight 21 is adapted to travel up and down within the rectangular structure thus formed and has a pulley 22 secured to its upper end, the purpose of which will be later seen.Y Y

A base 23 is also mounted upon the bank 5 and secured thereto supports 24: and 26,

within which is journalled a shaft 27.v

Mounted upon this shaft is a fly wheel 28 and a pulley 29. Y

Supported upon the tops of the piles 7 is a plank 31. A similar plank 32 is placed upon the tops of the piles 8. The numeral 33 designates a rectangular frame supported upon the plank 32, which frame has a pulley 34 secured upon its upper end.

Guide plates 36 and 37 are secured to this rectangular frame, which guide plates are provided with a slot as shown at 38, within which a bearing 39 is adapted to move. rihis bearing hassecured to its upper end a cable 41, which is passed upwardly and over the pulley 34C and downwardly connecting with a counter-balance L12.

At 48 is shown a rectangular support similar to that shown at 33. This support, however, is of greater width and has secured to it-s upper extremities pulleys 44 and L16, it of course being understood that the same counter-weight arrangement is mounted upon this support, which counter-weight is secured to a similar bearing as that described for the numeral 39. These bearings serve to support a shaft 47 upon which is mounted a drum 49 having closed ends and provided Vwith a series of outwardly extending paddles 51.

Within this drum is mounted a series of bilge plates 52. These plates are provided llO with inturned ends as shown at 53 and have their opposite ends connected to the ends of the drum.

Openings 54s are provided in the ends of the drum at a point adjacent the turned ends 53 of the bilge plates, the purpose of Which Will be later seen. n

A pulley 56 of large diameter is secured to the end of the drum and is Aadapted to have a cable 57 passed therearound, one end of which is passed over the pulley e6, thence over the pulley 29, thence ove-r the pulley 18, under the pulley 22, over the pulley 19, thence over the pulley 44, and back to point of commencement.

The operation of my device is as followsz- Assuming that the parts have been arranged as shown in Figure l, the drum 49 will float upon the surface of the Water 6, and the paddles 5l will successively be submerged in the Water, due 'to the flow of current and the rotation of the drum. This drum rotating Will transmit power through the cable 57, to the shaft 27. The uniform speed of rotation Will be ascertained ythrough the action of the flywheel and the tension of the cable Will be maintained through the medium of the Weight 2l. "When the surface of the Water recfedes, the drum Will drop and the counter-Weights 42 and 43 Will rise. This rising and falling Will take place automatically and at the same time the weight 2l Will also automatically maintain the tension of the cable 57.

It is to be understood that the,` ferm of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred 'example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claim.

`Having thus described my invention, ,I claim z- In a device of the character described, spaced supports, a shaftv extending between said supports, the ends of said shaft being mounted in movable bearings, counter- Weights secured to each of said bearings,ia drum mounted yon said shaft, said drum. being adapted to float upon the surface `of a stream, paddle Wheels secured to the periphery of said drum for the purpose of imparting rotation from said stream to said drum, 'a pulley secured on the end of said drum, va shaft remotely located with respect to said drum, la pulley on said shaft, a cable extending between said first mentioned pulley andy said second mentioned pulley, and means for automatically maintaining the 'tension yof said cable, `said means consisting of a Weight having a pulley secured thereto, spaced pulleys mounted above said pulley in such a manner that said cable is trained over one of said pulleys under said pulley on said Weight and over the other of said pulleys.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

KICHIMATSU MUKAI. 

